Factfile on encephalitis

THE types of symptoms seen in encephalitis reflect the specific areas of the brain affected by the inflammation.

The range of symptoms and their rate of development vary widely and can make the diagnosis of encephalitis difficult.

Infectious Encephalitis frequently begins with a flu-like illness or headache. Typically more serious symptoms follow hours to days later. The most serious finding is an alteration in level of consciousness.

This can range from mild confusion or drowsiness, to loss of consciousness, seizures and coma.

Other symptoms include a high temperature, seizures (fits), aversion to bright lights, inability to speak or control movement, sensory changes, neck stiffness, or uncharacteristic behaviour.

In autoimmune types of encephalitis people can present with psychosis and hallucinations among other neurological presentations. Sometimes these patients can be mistakenly thought to be developing psychiatric or mental health illnesses.

The Encephalitis Society (www. encephalitis.info) was founded in 1994, is a registered charity and the only resource of its kind in the world providing direct support and information to people affected by encephalitis, and to their family and friends.

The fourth annual World Encephalitis Day is asking people to wear something red to raise awareness of the condition and share them on social media using the hashtag, #RED4WED.

Several landmarks across the globe are also ‘going red’ on February 22, including Niagara Falls, the fountains at Trafalgar Square and Blackpool Tower.